Nearly 30 games later, the misery has stopped — 13 days before the scariest day of the year for the Northern Michigan football team.

The Wildcats snapped the longest active losing streak in NCAA Division II football with a 42-21 win over Roosevelt in Chicago on Saturday. It was the first win since a 33-11 victory against Lake Erie College in the final game of the season on Nov. 12, 2022.

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• Division II Football Rankings 2025 Week 7: UTPB Falls, CWU Surges, Ferris Holds
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And the Wildcats, who had entered halftime against powerhouse Grand Valley State tied seven days earlier, dominated. They led 21-7 at halftime against this set of Lakers (1-5 overall) and never looked back.

Northern Michigan attempted just one pass. Why would the Cats pass when Noah Dobert (244 yards) and Jahi Wood (236 yards) led a rushing attack that generated 538 yards on 71 attempts. 

But the only stats that really mattered for the Wildcats were the 1-6 overall record and the 1-2 GLIAC record. 

Shane Richardson, a 2001 NMU graduate hired about a month after the last win Wildcats wins, finally captured his first victory since he was the head coach at UNC Pembroke from 2014-2022.

During the losing streak, NMU saw few highlights and played in games that were mostly decided before halftime. But 2025 has brought some energy for the Wildcats. The team lost two one-score games to open the season and played teams close for the first half three more times afterward, only to be overwhelmed.

The overwhelming weight of the losing streak never crushed the Wildcats against the Lakers. Northern Michigan added 21 points across the final two quarters. The Cats answered touchdowns from the Lakers, who were trying to snap a five-game losing streak themselves.

 The strong finish ensured the trip back to Marquette, Michigan, would be the most celebrated — and then some — since that road win over Lake Erie College 1,071 days ago.

Northern Michigan Football May Not Be Done

Had NMU lost to Roosevelt, in its second year in the GLIAC, the Wildcats’ next chance for a win would have been on Nov. 15. That last game of the year in the Superior Dome is against winless Wayne State.

Watch More GLIAC Football On FloCollege

Here’s the GLIAC and Division II broadcast schedule on FloCollege for Week 7 of the 2025 college football season. Subscribe to watch. 

Latest Division II Rankings 

FloCollege D2 Football Rankings: Week 7

1. Ferris State (Prev. 1)
2. Harding (Prev. 2)
3. Kutztown (Prev. 3)
4. West Florida (Prev. 4)
5. Western Colorado (Prev. 5)
6. Minnesota State (Prev. 8)
7. Central Washington (Prev. 13)
8. Grand Valley State (Prev. 9)
9. West Alabama (Prev. 10)
10. CSU Pueblo (Prev. 12)
11. Augustana (SD) (Prev. 14)
12. Pittsburg State (Prev. 15)
13. Indianapolis (Prev. 20)
14. Virginia Union (Prev. 16)
15. UT Permian Basin (Prev. 6)
16. Michigan Tech (Prev. 17)
17. Slippery Rock (Prev. 22)
18. Delta State (Prev. 18)
19. Minnesota Duluth (Prev. 7)
20. Emory & Henry (Prev. 19)
21. Northwest Missouri State (Prev. 25)
22. Charleston (WV) (Prev. 21)
23. Findlay (Prev. 24)
24. Angelo State (Prev. 11)
25. UNC Pembroke (Prev. 23)

Also Received Votes: Benedict, Albany State, Ashland, Henderson State, MSU Moorhead, Anderson (SC), East Stroudsburg, California (PA), Johnson C. Smith, Northwood.

AFCA Division II Coaches Poll For Week 7 Of 2025 Season

• 1. Ferris St. (Prev. 1)
• 2. Harding (Prev. 2)
• 3. West Florida (Prev. 3)
• 4. Kutztown (Prev. 4)
• 5. Western Colorado (Prev. 5)
• 6. Augustana (S.D.) (Prev. 7)
• 7. Grand Valley St. (Prev. 8
•  8. West Alabama (Prev. 9)
• 9. Colorado St.-Pueblo (Prev. 11)
• 10. Central Washington (Prev. 13)
• 11. Minnesota St. (Prev. 14)
• 12. Pittsburg St. (Prev. 15)
• 13. UT Permian Basin (Prev. 6)
• 14. Virginia Union (Prev. 17)
• 15. UIndy (Prev. 18)
• T16. Findlay (Prev. 19)
• T16. Minnesota-Duluth (Prev. 10)
• 18. Delta St. (Prev. 20)
• 19. Northwest Missouri St. (Prev. 22)
• 20. UNC Pembroke (Prev. 23)
• 21. Angelo St. (Prev. 12)
• 22. Ashland (Prev. 24t)
• 23. Johnson C. Smith (Prev. 24t)
• 24. Benedict (Prev. NR)
• 25. Slippery Rock (Prev. 24t)

Dropped Out: California (Pa.) (16), Frostburg St. (21)

Others Receiving Votes: Emory & Henry, 36; California (Pa.), 27; Southern Arkansas, 26; Henderson St., 25; Frostburg St., 21; Indiana (Pa.), 15; Nebraska-Kearney, 13; Charleston, 9; Chadron St., 7; Albany St., 2; Assumption, 1; Michigan Tech, 1.

When Do The 2025 NCAA Division II College Football Playoffs Start?

The first round of the 2025 NCAA Division II Playoffs will be Nov. 22.

The 2025 Division II Football Championship title game will be played Dec. 20, 2025, at McKinney ISD Stadium in McKinney, Texas.

Ready For A Dog Fight: No. 16 Michigan Tech Hosts No. 1 Ferris State

No. 16 Michigan Tech hosts No. 1 Ferris State for a top-25 matchup with GLIAC championship implications. 

Ferris State has won the last 12 meetings, but this Huskies squad believes it has what it takes to end the streak.

Archived Footage On FloCollege

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Watch The 2025 College Football Season On FloCollege

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Don't miss the latest college football action by bookmarking the FloCollege schedule page for the latest games. 

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